Background and access to Deposited Papers

Deposited Papers are placed in the Commons or Lords libraries by a government minister, the Speaker of the Commons or the Lord Speaker.

The series of Deposited Papers began in 1832 and are not presented or laid formally before Parliament. Members of the public can view Deposited Papers online or receive copies of the papers by contacting the Parliamentary Archives.

Deposited Papers procedure

A minister will deposit material in both libraries in response to requests for information by MPs or Members of the Lords in the form of parliamentary questions or requests during debates.

This means specific information can be made available to Parliament without the need to publish it formally.

Who can deposit a paper?

Backbench MPs may not deposit items in this series; apart from government ministers, only the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Speaker and MPs acting on behalf of bodies such as the Church Commissioners or the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, may do so.

Guidelines for Government departments

The following guidelines explain how government departments can Deposit Papers in the Commons Library and Lords Library.